Babazadeh Towhid, Ranjbaran Soheila, Pourrazavi Sara, Maleki Chollou Khalil, Nadi Akbar, Tazekand Erfan Saeedi
Department of Public Health, Sarab Faculty of Medical Sciences, Sarab, Iran.
Research Center of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
PLoS One. 2025 Mar 26;20(3):e0319269. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0319269. eCollection 2025.
Happiness is crucial for well-being in older people, but it can be challenged by various health issues. While previous research has explored individual predictors of happiness, there is limited understanding of how self-efficacy-the belief in one's ability to manage challenges-and self-esteem, or positive self-regard, together influence happiness in elderly populations. Hence, this research aimed to fill this gap by investigating the association of self-efficacy and self-esteem with happiness in elders.
A cross-sectional study was conducted with 400 individuals aged 60 years or older who visited health centers in Sarab, Iran, from April to June 2023. Data were collected using valid and reliable instruments, including the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire, Sherer's Self-Efficacy Scale, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. To analyze the data, bivariate comparisons of quantitative variables were performed using independent samples t-tests and one-way ANOVA. Additionally, hierarchical regression analysis was conducted on happiness using two distinct sets of independent variables.
According to the results, there was a statistically significant association between marital status (p-value = 0.021), income (p-value < 0.001), education (p-value < 0.001), and physical activity (p-value < 0.001) with happiness. Happiness showed strong positive correlations with self-efficacy (r = 0.747; p-value < 0.001) and self-esteem (r = 0.306; p-value < 0.001). Hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis revealed that demographic factors accounted for 15.3% of the variance in happiness, while self-efficacy and self-esteem explained an additional 43.0%, totaling 58.7%. Among the predictors, self-efficacy was the strongest (β = 0.695).
Self-efficacy and self-esteem were key determinants of happiness in elderly people. Healthcare centers serving older populations could implement targeted interventions such as skill-building workshops aimed at enhancing self-efficacy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) sessions to build coping strategies, and art therapy programs to boost self-esteem. Additional interventions might include mindfulness and relaxation techniques to reduce stress, social engagement activities to promote a sense of belonging, and group exercises or physical activity programs that foster both physical well-being and psychological resilience. Future studies should explore the long-term effectiveness of these interventions in promoting sustained happiness in older adults.
幸福对老年人的幸福感至关重要，但它可能会受到各种健康问题的挑战。虽然先前的研究探讨了幸福的个体预测因素，但对于自我效能感（即相信自己有能力应对挑战）和自尊或积极的自我认知如何共同影响老年人群的幸福，人们的了解有限。因此，本研究旨在通过调查老年人的自我效能感和自尊与幸福之间的关联来填补这一空白。
对2023年4月至6月期间访问伊朗萨拉布健康中心的400名60岁及以上的个体进行了一项横断面研究。使用有效且可靠的工具收集数据，包括牛津幸福问卷、谢勒自我效能感量表和罗森伯格自尊量表。为了分析数据，使用独立样本t检验和单因素方差分析对定量变量进行双变量比较。此外，使用两组不同的自变量对幸福进行分层回归分析。
根据结果，婚姻状况（p值 = 0.021）、收入（p值 < 0.001）、教育程度（p值 < 0.001）和体育活动（p值 < 0.001）与幸福之间存在统计学上的显著关联。幸福与自我效能感（r = 0.747；p值 < 0.001）和自尊（r = 0.306；p值 < 0.001）呈强正相关。分层多元线性回归分析显示，人口统计学因素占幸福差异的15.3%，而自我效能感和自尊又解释了另外的43.0%，总计58.7%。在预测因素中，自我效能感最强（β = 0.695）。
自我效能感和自尊是老年人幸福的关键决定因素。为老年人群服务的医疗保健中心可以实施有针对性的干预措施，如旨在提高自我效能感的技能培训工作坊、旨在建立应对策略的认知行为疗法（CBT）课程，以及旨在增强自尊的艺术疗法项目。其他干预措施可能包括正念和放松技巧以减轻压力、促进归属感的社交参与活动，以及促进身体健康和心理恢复力的团体运动或体育活动项目。未来的研究应探索这些干预措施在促进老年人持续幸福方面的长期效果。
